Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton joined members of the Warren Pastoral and Agricultural Association and the McCalman family to officially open the new Ron McCalman Pavilion on Friday.
There’ll be an extra reason to visit the 2021 Warren Show this Saturday, with the brand new main pavilion now complete, thanks to a $165,565 Commonwealth Government grant.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton officially opened the new Ron McCalman Pavilion at the Warren Showground and Racecourse on Friday.
“It’s great to be here today to see the new pavilion filled with preserves, baked goods, arts and crafts, flowers and school exhibits, ready for hundreds of visitors to admire at the Show tomorrow,” Mr Coulton said.
“Warren Pastoral and Agricultural Association was one of eight agricultural show societies in the Parkes electorate to receive funding through the Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants program to reinvigorate their showgrounds.
“Country shows are often a highlight on the social calendar for these regional communities and this funding has helped local volunteers rejuvenate their facilities to attract more visitors as they look to bounce back from a few difficult years due to drought and COVID-19.
“Warren Pastoral and Agricultural Association has put its funding to good use, with the new pavilion a wonderful asset to the showground and wider community. It has lifted the spirits of everyone on the committee and I’m sure will be welcomed by show-goers tomorrow.”
Warren Pastoral and Agricultural Association President Ashley Bell thanked the Federal Government for the grant which he said has enabled the old pavilion to be completely replaced.
“The old pavilion was pulled down and we’ve been able to completely rebuild it from scratch, with new flooring and the addition of an office which makes a difference,” Mr Bell said.
“This is great for the whole community; we’ll be able to hire it out for events or for other groups to use. It’s a community pavilion.
“It’s very exciting to see it completed, just in time for this year’s Show. It’s given everyone a spring in their step and something to look forward to, especially because we didn’t have a Show last year due to COVID-19.
“Thank you to Mark and the Federal Government; we’re very appreciative of the support.”
The Australian Government has committed $20 million over two years to support agricultural shows through the Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants program.
A total of $1,514,180 in grant funding has been awarded to show societies in the Parkes electorate under this program.